How to promote social justice in education systemically
By Rod Dreher
Rawlings School of Divinity
CLED 720: Biblical & Theological Foundations of Education
Genevieve Hamer
July 3, 2022
How to promote social justice in education systemically
Since social justice in education takes two forms – within educational structure and within
the classroom – there are two ways to promote it. The first is to build a school system that
promotes equality. This can be done using methods such as better tracking to find out what the
economic makeup of students is. When schools collect more knowledge of the inequalities
within their system, they’re better equipped to deal with it. Tracking is also important when it
comes to identifying struggling students at risk of dropping out. Resources for these students
should be a priority, while tracking can help inform schools of how practices are helping or
hindering.
Resources for parents can also help implement social justice within the educational system.
Programs like after-school homework clubs and extracurriculars can help parents who work
long days or speak different languages. Programs also help students who simply lack good
home support. Educational systems can also strongly-consider scholarships and financial aid, so
income doesn’t become a barrier when accessing certain schools.
How to promote social justice in education within the classroom
As for adopting a social justice framework within the classroom, the responsibility falls on
the administration and the teachers. Schools that commit to social justice must also commit to
frequent self-reflection. This can include regular workshops and conferences, but there should
also be an understanding that there is no finish line. It’s a continuous process.
Teachers can promote social justice in a variety of ways, such as making sure to provide
students with multiple perspectives and encouraging them to think beyond themselves.
Bringing in current event stories and making history relevant to the present are both great ways
for students to exercise their analytical thinking skills and expand their minds. Teachers should
be cognizant of their own bias and be sure that the materials allow students to develop their
own opinions. Outside the classroom, teachers should also commit to continuously researching
and studying the best ways to incorporate social justice.
Benefits of social justice in education
The goals of social justice in education include more empathy, more justice, and more
equality. Students taught with this framework will ideally have a stronger sense of what’s just
and fair, and choose careers and lifestyles that support their communities. Since social justice in
education is relatively new, there isn’t a lot of research into the benefits, but what there is is
very promising.
A recent Pennsylvania State University study examined transformative social-justice
education looked at the long-term impact that a social justice course had on black adolescents.
The study revealed that even after many years post-graduation, former students expressed that
the class changed their sense of justice and even their own identity. 11 out of the 13 said that
as a result, they began exploring careers that would help their community. While the sample
size was small, it’s compelling evidence in support of the benefits of social justice in education.
